Signal processing device, imaging element, and electronic apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present technology relates to a signal processing device, an imaging element, and an electronic apparatus configured so that a cost increase can be suppressed. 
     A signal processing device of the present technology includes: a comparison unit configured to compare a signal level of an analog signal with a signal level of a reference signal; a selection unit configured to select, from a plurality of reference signals, the reference signal to be supplied to the comparison unit; and a switching unit capable of switching a signal line connected to an input terminal of the comparison unit such that a signal line via which the reference signal selected by the selection unit is transmitted is connected to the input terminal of the comparison unit, wherein the comparison unit includes a floating node as the input terminal, the selection unit includes a signal line in which a parasitic capacitance is caused between the signal line and the floating node as the input terminal of the comparison unit, and the signal line of the selection unit is configured to transmit an identical level of signal in multiple comparison processes performed by the comparison unit. The present technology is applicable to, e.g., an imaging element and an electronic apparatus.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/521,415, filed Apr. 24, 2017, which is aNational Stage Entry of PCT/JP2015/079819, filed Oct. 22, 2015, andclaims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent ApplicationJP2014-225188, filed Nov. 5, 2014, the entire content of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present technology relates to a signal processing device, an imagingelement, and an electronic apparatus. In particular, the presenttechnology relates to a signal processing device, an imaging element,and an electronic apparatus configured so that a cost increase can besuppressed.

BACKGROUND ART

Typically in a general image sensor, electrical charge stored in a lightreceiving unit such as a photodiode is read as a signal, and then,analog/digital (A/D) conversion is performed for such a signal (see,e.g., Patent Document 1).

Such A/D conversion has been generally performed in such a manner that asignal read from a pixel having a light receiving unit is compared witha reference voltage such as a ramp wave and a time until such acomparison result changes is measured. In recent years, gradationenhancement in this A/D conversion has been demanded for image qualityenhancement. Note that high-speed performance in processing andsuppression of an increase in circuit dimensions and power consumptionhave been additionally demanded. For these reasons, Patent Document 1describes a method in which two types of reference voltages withdifferent gradients are prepared, a determination unit configured todetermine the level of a pixel output signal is additionally provided,and either one of the two reference voltages is selected according tosuch a determination result such that the selected reference voltage isused for comparison with a signal read from a pixel.

Meanwhile, circuit miniaturization has been recently advanced for, e.g.,size reduction and power consumption reduction. With circuitminiaturization, e.g., a distance between signal wirings is shortened,and this might lead to occurrence of a parasitic capacitance. Forexample, a case is conceivable, in which a control circuit for selectinga reference voltage is formed near an input terminal of a comparisonunit configured to compare a signal read from a pixel with the referencevoltage and a parasitic capacitance is caused between a wiring in thecontrol circuit and the input terminal. In this case, the input terminalof the comparison unit as a series-capacitance floating node might besubjected to coupling due to signal transition of the wiring in thecontrol circuit.

For example, in the case of performing correlated double sampling in A/Dconversion, the signal level of a signal transmitted via the wiring inthe control circuit might be different between a reset period and asignal reading period in correlated double sampling, and a fluctuationamount of a coupling voltage on the input terminal of the comparisonunit in the reset period might be different from that in the signalreading period. With such a difference in the coupling voltagefluctuation amount between the reset period and the signal readingperiod, an error is caused in a correlated double sampling result due tothe fluctuation amount difference, and as a result, there is aprobability that A/D conversion cannot be accurately performed.

For reducing such an error, the parasitic capacitance may be reduced bya shield wiring provided with a fixed potential or a sufficient distancebetween wirings.

CITATION LIST Patent Document

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.    2011-41091

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, these methods might lead to a circuit area increase and a costincrease.

The present technology has been proposed in the view of theabove-described situation, and is intended to suppress a cost increase.

Solutions to Problems

An aspect of the present technology is a signal processing deviceincluding: a comparison unit configured to compare a signal level of ananalog signal with a signal level of a reference signal; a selectionunit configured to select, from a plurality of reference signals, thereference signal to be supplied to the comparison unit; and a switchingunit capable of switching a signal line connected to an input terminalof the comparison unit such that a signal line via which the referencesignal selected by the selection unit is transmitted is connected to theinput terminal of the comparison unit, wherein the comparison unitincludes a floating node as the input terminal, the selection unitincludes a signal line in which a parasitic capacitance is causedbetween the signal line and the floating node as the input terminal ofthe comparison unit, and the signal line of the selection unit isconfigured to transmit an identical level of signal in multiplecomparison processes performed by the comparison unit.

The comparison unit sequentially may compare a signal level of a resetsignal read from a unit pixel with each signal level of the plurality ofreference signals, the selection unit may select any one of theplurality of reference signals according to a signal level of a pixelsignal read from the unit pixel, the switching unit may switch, asnecessary, the signal line connected to the input terminal of thecomparison unit such that the signal line via which the reference signalselected by the selection unit is transmitted is connected to the inputterminal of the comparison unit, the comparison unit may further comparethe signal level of the pixel signal with the signal level of thereference signal selected by the selection unit, and the signal line ofthe selection unit may transmit the identical level of signal in both ofcomparison, by the comparison unit, between the signal level of thereset signal and the signal level of the reference signal selected bythe selection unit and comparison between the signal level of the pixelsignal and the signal level of the reference signal by the comparisonunit.

A signal level of the signal transmitted via the signal line of theselection unit may indicate the reference signal selected by theselection unit.

The comparison unit may be initialized, sequentially compare a signallevel of a reset signal read from a unit pixel with each signal level ofthe plurality of reference signals, and compare a signal level of apixel signal read from the unit pixel with a signal level of apredetermined reference signal, the selection unit may select any one ofthe plurality of reference signals on the basis of a result ofcomparison between the signal level of the pixel signal and the signallevel of the predetermined reference signal by the comparison unit, theswitching unit may switch, as necessary, the signal line connected tothe input terminal of the comparison unit such that the signal line viawhich the reference signal selected by the selection unit is transmittedis connected to the input terminal of the comparison unit, thecomparison unit may further compare the signal level of the pixel signalwith the signal level of the reference signal selected by the selectionunit, and the signal line of the selection unit may transmit theidentical level of signal in both of initialization of the comparisonunit and comparison between the signal level of the pixel signal and thesignal level of the predetermined reference signal by the comparisonunit.

A signal level of the signal transmitted via the signal line of theselection unit may indicate the reference signal selected by theselection unit.

The selection unit may select, from the plurality of reference signals,the reference signal to be supplied to the comparison unit on the basisof a result of comparison performed by the comparison unit.

A measurement unit configured to measure a time until a result ofcomparison performed by the comparison unit changes and output ameasurement result as an A/D conversion result of the analog signal mayfurther be included.

The comparison unit may compare the signal level of the reference signalwith the signal level of the analog signal read from a unit pixel of apixel array belonging to a unit pixel group assigned to the comparisonunit itself.

In addition, an aspect of the present technology is an imaging elementincluding: a pixel array configured such that unit pixels are arrangedin a matrix; a comparison unit configured to compare a signal level ofan analog signal read from each unit pixel of the pixel array with asignal level of a reference signal; a selection unit configured toselect, from a plurality of reference signals, the reference signal tobe supplied to the comparison unit; and a switching unit capable ofswitching a signal line connected to an input terminal of the comparisonunit such that a signal line via which the reference signal selected bythe selection unit is transmitted is connected to the input terminal ofthe comparison unit, wherein the comparison unit includes a floatingnode as the input terminal, the selection unit includes a signal line inwhich a parasitic capacitance is caused between the signal line and thefloating node as the input terminal of the comparison unit, and thesignal line of the selection unit is configured to transmit an identicallevel of signal in multiple comparison processes performed by thecomparison unit.

Furthermore, an aspect of the present technology is an electronicapparatus including: an imaging unit configured to obtain an image of anobject; and an image processing unit configured to process image dataobtained by imaging of the imaging unit, wherein the imaging unitincludes a pixel array configured such that unit pixels are arranged ina matrix, a comparison unit configured to compare a signal level of ananalog signal read from each unit pixel of the pixel array with a signallevel of a reference signal, a selection unit configured to select, froma plurality of reference signals, the reference signal to be supplied tothe comparison unit, and a switching unit capable of switching a signalline connected to an input terminal of the comparison unit such that asignal line via which the reference signal selected by the selectionunit is transmitted is connected to the input terminal of the comparisonunit, wherein the comparison unit includes a floating node as the inputterminal, the selection unit includes a signal line in which a parasiticcapacitance is caused between the signal line and the floating node asthe input terminal of the comparison unit, and the signal line of theselection unit is configured to transmit an identical level of signal inmultiple comparison processes performed by the comparison unit.

Another aspect of the present technology is a signal processing deviceincluding: a comparison unit configured to compare a signal level of ananalog signal with a signal level of a reference signal; a selectionunit configured to select, from a plurality of reference signals, thereference signal to be supplied to the comparison unit; a switching unitcapable of switching a signal line connected to the comparison unit suchthat a signal line via which the reference signal selected by theselection unit is transmitted is connected to the comparison unit; amixing unit configured to mix a signal indicating a comparison resultobtained by the comparison unit with a signal indicating the referencesignal selected by the selection unit; a measurement unit configured tomeasure a time until a value of the signal indicating the comparisonresult obtained by the comparison unit changes and output a measurementresult as an A/D conversion result of the analog signal, the signalbeing contained in a signal output from the mixing unit and transmittedvia a single signal line; and a control unit configured to controlmeasurement of the measurement unit on the basis of the signalindicating the reference signal selected by the selection unit, thesignal being contained in the signal output from the mixing unit andtransmitted via the single signal line.

The mixing unit may transmit, via the single signal line, the signalindicating the comparison result obtained by the comparison unit and thesignal indicating the reference signal selected by the selection unit indifferent periods.

The comparison unit may sequentially compare a signal level of a resetsignal read from a unit pixel with each signal level of the plurality ofreference signals, and compare a signal level of a pixel signal readfrom the unit pixel with a signal level of a predetermined referencesignal, the selection unit may select any one of the plurality ofreference signals, the switching unit may switch, as necessary, thesignal line connected to the comparison unit such that the signal linevia which the reference signal selected by the selection unit istransmitted is connected to the comparison unit, the comparison unit mayfurther compare the signal level of the pixel signal with the signallevel of the reference signal selected by the selection unit, and themixing unit may transmit, via the single signal line, the signalindicating the comparison result in a period for comparing the signallevel of the reset signal with the signal level of each reference signalby the comparison unit, transmit, via the single signal line, the signalindicating the reference signal selected by the selection unit in aperiod for comparing the signal level of the pixel signal with thesignal level of the predetermined reference signal by the comparisonunit, and transmit, via the single signal line, the signal indicatingthe comparison result in a period for comparing, by the comparison unit,the signal level of the pixel signal with the signal level of thereference signal selected by the selection unit.

The comparison unit may include a signal comparison unit configured tocompare the signal level of the analog signal with the signal level ofthe reference signal, a logical NOT unit configured to invert acomparison result obtained by the signal comparison unit, and a logicalNAND unit configured to obtain a logical NAND of output of the logicalNOT unit and a predetermined control signal, and the mixing unit may mixoutput of the logical NAND unit with the signal indicating the referencesignal selected by the selection unit.

The comparison unit may include a signal comparison unit configured tocompare the signal level of the analog signal with the signal level ofthe reference signal, and a logical NOT unit configured to invert acomparison result obtained by the signal comparison unit, and the mixingunit may include a logical AND unit configured to obtain a logical ANDof output of the logical NOT unit and a predetermined control signal,and a logical NOR unit configured to obtain a logical NOR of output ofthe logical AND unit and the signal indicating the reference signalselected by the selection unit.

The selection unit may select, from the plurality of reference signals,the reference signal to be supplied to the comparison unit according tothe comparison result obtained by the comparison unit.

The comparison unit may compare the signal level of the reference signalwith the signal level of the analog signal read from a unit pixel of apixel array belonging to a unit pixel group assigned to the comparisonunit itself.

The comparison unit, the selection unit, the switching unit, and themixing unit may be formed on a semiconductor substrate different fromthat for the measurement unit and the control unit.

In addition, another aspect of the present technology is an imagingelement including: a pixel array configured such that unit pixels arearranged in a matrix; a comparison unit configured to compare a signallevel of an analog signal read from each unit pixel of the pixel arraywith a signal level of a reference signal; a selection unit configuredto select, from a plurality of reference signals, the reference signalto be supplied to the comparison unit; a switching unit capable ofswitching a signal line connected to the comparison unit such that asignal line via which the reference signal selected by the selectionunit is transmitted is connected to the comparison unit; a mixing unitconfigured to mix a signal indicating a comparison result obtained bythe comparison unit with a signal indicating the reference signalselected by the selection unit; a measurement unit configured to measurea time until a value of the signal indicating the comparison resultobtained by the comparison unit changes and output a measurement resultas an A/D conversion result of the analog signal, the signal beingcontained in a signal output from the mixing unit and transmitted via asingle signal line; and a control unit configured to control measurementof the measurement unit on the basis of the signal indicating thereference signal selected by the selection unit, the signal beingcontained in the signal output from the mixing unit and transmitted viathe single signal line.

Furthermore, another aspect of the present technology is an electronicapparatus including: an imaging unit configured to obtain an image of anobject; and an image processing unit configured to process image dataobtained by imaging of the imaging unit, wherein the imaging unitincludes a pixel array configured such that unit pixels are arranged ina matrix, a comparison unit configured to compare a signal level of ananalog signal read from each unit pixel of the pixel array with a signallevel of a reference signal, a selection unit configured to select, froma plurality of reference signals, the reference signal to be supplied tothe comparison unit, and a switching unit capable of switching a signalline connected to the comparison unit such that a signal line via whichthe reference signal selected by the selection unit is transmitted isconnected to the comparison unit, a mixing unit configured to mix asignal indicating a comparison result obtained by the comparison unitwith a signal indicating the reference signal selected by the selectionunit, a measurement unit configured to measure a time until a value ofthe signal indicating the comparison result obtained by the comparisonunit changes and output a measurement result as an A/D conversion resultof the analog signal, the signal being contained in a signal output fromthe mixing unit and transmitted via a single signal line, and a controlunit configured to control measurement of the measurement unit on thebasis of the signal indicating the reference signal selected by theselection unit, the signal being contained in the signal output from themixing unit and transmitted via the single signal line.

In an aspect of the present technology, the following units areprovided: a comparison unit configured to compare the signal level of ananalog signal with the signal level of a reference signal; a selectionunit configured to select, from a plurality of reference signals, thereference signal to be supplied to the comparison unit; and a switchingunit capable of switching a signal line connected to an input terminalof the comparison unit such that a signal line via which the referencesignal selected by the selection unit is transmitted is connected to theinput terminal of the comparison unit. The comparison unit includes afloating node as the input terminal. A signal line of the selection unitin which a parasitic capacitance is caused between the signal line andthe input terminal of the comparison unit is configured to transmit thesame level of signal in multiple comparison processes performed by thecomparison unit.

In another aspect of the present technology, the following units areprovided: a comparison unit configured to compare the signal level of ananalog signal with the signal level of a reference signal; a selectionunit configured to select, from a plurality of reference signals, thereference signal to be supplied to the comparison unit; a switching unitcapable of switching a signal line connected to the comparison unit suchthat a signal line via which the reference signal selected by theselection unit is transmitted is connected to the comparison unit; amixing unit configured to mix a signal indicating a comparison resultobtained by the comparison unit with a signal indicating the referencesignal selected by the selection unit; a measurement unit configured tomeasure a time until a value of the signal indicating the comparisonresult obtained by the comparison unit changes and output a measurementresult as an A/D conversion result of the analog signal, the signalbeing contained in a signal output from the mixing unit and transmittedvia a single signal line; and a control unit configured to controlmeasurement of the measurement unit on the basis of the signalindicating the reference signal selected by the selection unit, thesignal being contained in the signal output from the mixing unit andtransmitted via the single signal line.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present technology, a signal can be processed.Moreover, according to the present technology, a cost increase can besuppressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a main configuration example of an A/D conversionunit.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a main configuration example of a comparisonunit.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams of a main configuration example of a switchcontrol unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing a parasitic capacitance.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart for describing an example of an internal signalof the switch control unit.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are timing charts for describing another example of theinternal signal of the switch control unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a main configuration example of an image sensor.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a main configuration example of a unit pixel.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a main configuration example of a column A/Dconversion unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of a main configuration example of a selectionunit.

FIG. 11 is a timing chart for describing an example of a state in A/Dconversion.

FIG. 12 is a timing chart for describing another example of the state inA/D conversion.

FIG. 13 is a timing chart for describing still another example of theinternal signal of the switch control unit.

FIG. 14 is a timing chart for describing still another example of thestate in A/D conversion.

FIG. 15 is a diagram of another main configuration example of the columnA/D conversion unit.

FIG. 16 is a diagram of still another main configuration example of thecolumn A/D conversion unit.

FIG. 17 is a diagram of still another main configuration example of thecolumn A/D conversion unit.

FIG. 18 is a diagram of another main configuration example of thecomparison unit.

FIG. 19 is a timing chart for describing an example of a state inmixture.

FIG. 20 is a diagram of still another main configuration example of thecolumn A/D conversion unit.

FIG. 21 is a diagram of an example of a physical configuration of theimage sensor.

FIG. 22 is a diagram of a main configuration example of an imagingdevice.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Modes (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) for carrying out thepresent disclosure will be described below. Note that description willbe made in the following order:

1. First Embodiment (Image Sensor);

2. Second Embodiment (Image Sensor);

3. Third Embodiment (Image Sensor);

4. Fourth Embodiment (Image Sensor); and

5. Fifth Embodiment (Imaging Device).

1. First Embodiment

<Parasitic Capacitance and Coupling Voltage Fluctuation>

Typically, a general image sensor has been configured to read, as asignal, electrical charge stored in a light receiving unit such as aphotodiode to perform analog/digital (A/D) conversion of the electricalcharge. Such A/D conversion has been generally performed in such amanner that a signal read from a pixel having the light receiving unitis compared with a reference voltage such as a ramp wave and a timeuntil such a comparison result changes is measured.

Gradation enhancement of the image sensor is one type of performancerequired for image quality enhancement. In particular, gradationenhancement in a low-illuminance region greatly contributes to an imagequality. Generally, in the case of enhancing a gradation, suchenhancement sacrifices high-speed performance, an area, and powerconsumption. Due to gradation enhancement, the number of A/D conversionprocesses increases, and this might lead to lowering of the high-speedperformance. Further, when a plurality of A/D conversion units are usedto perform parallel processing to maintain the high-speed performance,this might lead to an increase in the area and the power consumption.With an increase in the area of the A/D conversion units, asemiconductor substrate becomes larger, and this might lead to anincrease in a manufacturing cost. In addition, due to an increase in thearea of the A/D conversion units, designing becomes more difficult, andthis might lead to an increase in a development cost.

In recent years, not only gradation enhancement in A/D conversion butalso high-speed processing and suppression of an increase in the areaand the power consumption have been demanded, for example. Thus, asdescribed in, e.g., Patent Document 1, a method is conceivable, in whichtwo types of reference voltages with different gradients are prepared, adetermination unit configured to determine the level of a pixel outputsignal is additionally provided, and either one of the two referencevoltages is selected according to such a determination result such thatthe selected reference voltage is used for comparison with a signal readfrom a pixel.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main configuration example of an A/Dconversion unit configured to perform A/D conversion in theabove-described method. In the A/D conversion unit illustrated in FIG.1, a comparison unit 11 is configured to compare a signal Vx as ananalog signal with a reference signal Vref1 or a reference signal Vref2(also referred to as a “reference voltage”) whose voltage fluctuateswithin a predetermined range, such as a ramp wave. A counter 12 isconfigured to count a time (e.g., a clock number) until a value of thecomparison result changes after the start of counting. Such a countvalue indicates a time (a clock number) until the signal level of thereference signal Vref1 or the reference signal Vref2 reaches the signallevel of the signal Vx from a minimum value or a maximum value. That is,the count value is digital data indicating the signal level of thesignal Vx. Thus, the counter 12 outputs the count value Do as the A/Dconversion result of the signal Vx.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a capacitor 13 is connected in series with aninput terminal of the comparison unit 11 to which the signal Vx isinput. Similarly, a capacitor 14 is connected in series with an inputterminal of the comparison unit 11 to which the reference signal Vref1or the reference signal Vref2 is input. That is, each input terminal ofthe comparison unit 11 forms a floating node.

Moreover, a switching unit 15 capable of switching the reference signalto be input to the comparison unit 11 is connected in series with thecapacitor 14. The switching unit 15 includes a switch configured tocontrol connection between a signal line via which the reference signalVref1 is transmitted and a signal line connected to the capacitor 14,and a switch configured to control connection between a signal line viawhich the reference signal Vref2 is transmitted and the signal lineconnected to the capacitor 14. The switching unit 15 turns on (ON)either one of the switches and turns off (OFF) the other one of theswitches, thereby inputting either one of the reference signal Vref1 andthe reference signal Vref2 to the comparison unit 11. The switching unit15 performs such switching operation on the basis of control by a switchcontrol unit 16, i.e., values of a control signal SWR1 and a controlsignal SWR2 from the switch control unit 16.

The switch control unit 16 is configured to determine the values of thecontrol signal SWR1 and the control signal SWR2 on the basis of valuesof a predetermined control signal SWSQ, a predetermined control signalADP, and a predetermined signal Vin, thereby supplying the controlsignal SWR1 and the control signal SWR2 to control the switching unit15. For example, in the case of the method described in Patent Document1, the signal Vx is, as the signal Vin, input to the switch control unit16, and the switching unit 15 is controlled according to the signallevel of the signal Vx (i.e., the reference signal is selected).

The reference signal Vref1 and the reference signal Vref2 are differentfrom each other in a voltage change speed (i.e., a signal gradient).Thus, the A/D conversion unit as illustrated in FIG. 1 differently usesthese reference signals according to the signal level of the signal Vx(i.e., an illuminance) (the A/D conversion unit switches the accuracy ofthe reference signal) so that a gradation in the low-illuminance regioncan be enhanced while a gradation in a high-illuminance region ismaintained. Moreover, since the switching unit performs switching of thereference signal, it is not necessary to perform the parallel processingusing the plurality of A/D conversion units. Thus, an increase in thearea and the power consumption can be suppressed.

The comparison unit 11 has a configuration as in an example illustratedin FIG. 2, for example. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the capacitor 13 isconnected in series with an input terminal Vxin of the comparison unit11 to which the signal Vx is input, and the capacitor 14 is connected inseries with an input terminal Vrefin of the comparison unit 11 to whichthe reference signal Vref1 or the reference signal Vref2 is input. Thus,the input terminal Vxin and the input terminal Vrefin are floatingnodes.

Meanwhile, the switch control unit 16 has a configuration as in anexample illustrated in FIG. 3A. The values of the control signal SWR1and the control signal SWR2 are, as in an example shown in FIG. 3B,determined according to the control signal ADP and the control signalSWSQ. More specifically, when the control signal ADP is “1,” the valueof the control signal SWR1 is a value of a signal SWFB, and the value ofthe control signal SWR2 is the value of the signal SWFB. As illustratedin FIG. 3A, the signal SWFB is an internal signal of the switch controlunit 16, and is determined according to the signal Vin. Morespecifically, the signal SWFB is denial of the signal Vin latched atpredetermined timing controlled according to a signal ϕfb.

With more circuit miniaturization, a distance between signal lines in acircuit is shortened. In the case of A/D conversion of FIG. 1, adistance between the comparison unit 11 and the switch control unit 16is shortened. As in an example illustrated in FIG. 4, there is aprobability that a parasitic capacitance is caused between each floatingnode (Vrefin and Vxin) of the comparison unit 11 and a signal line viawhich the signal SWFB of the switch control unit 16 is transmitted. Withsuch a parasitic capacitance, the floating node of the comparator mightbe subjected to coupling due to signal transition of the value of thesignal SWFB (e.g., an illuminance determination result).

For example, in A/D conversion, the A/D conversion unit of FIG. 1performs, as in a timing chart illustrated in FIG. 5, the following A/Dconversion processes in a reset period of correlated double sampling(CDS): A/D conversion (N1) of the signal Vx using the reference voltageVref1 with a gradation accuracy D1; and A/D conversion (N2) of thesignal Vx (a reset signal) using the reference voltage Vref2 with agradation accuracy D2. Then, the A/D conversion unit determines thesignal level of the signal Vx. On the basis of such a determinationresult, either one of A/D conversion (S1) of the signal Vx (a pixelsignal) using the reference voltage Vref1 and A/D conversion (S2) of thesignal Vx (the pixel signal) using the reference voltage Vref2 isperformed in a CDS signal reading period.

In this case, after determination of the signal level of the signal Vx(a time point T27), a pulse of ϕfb is generated, and a signal to belatched is updated. That is, depending on the value of the signal Vin,such updating might change the value of the signal SWFB. When the valueof the signal SWFB changes as described above, a fluctuation amount of acoupling voltage on the floating node of the comparison unit 11 variesbetween the reset period and the signal reading period. For this reason,there is a probability that an error corresponding to such couplingvoltage fluctuation is caused in a CDS result.

Examples of the method for reducing such an error include a method inwhich the parasitic capacitance is reduced by a shield wiring providedbetween the signal line via which the signal SWFB is transmitted andeach floating node of the comparison unit 11 or by a layout made with asufficient distance therebetween.

However, in the case of these methods, there is a probability that thecircuit area of the A/D conversion unit increases. With an increase inthe circuit area of the A/D conversion unit, the semiconductor substrateon which the circuit of the A/D conversion unit is disposed needs to beexpanded by such an increase. This might lead to an increase in themanufacturing cost. Moreover, with an increase in the circuit area ofthe A/D conversion unit, designing of the image sensor becomes moredifficult by such an increase. This might also lead to an increase inthe development cost. In addition, the power consumption might increasewith an increase in circuit dimensions.

<Control of Signal SWFB>

For the above-described reasons, a signal line which is included in aselection unit configured to select, from the plurality of referencesignals, the reference signal to be supplied to the comparison unit andin which the parasitic capacitance is caused between the signal line andthe input terminal as the floating node of the comparison unit isconfigured to transmit the same level of signal in each of multiplecomparison processes performed by the comparison unit. For example, inthe case of performing A/D conversion as in an example of FIG. 5, thevalue of the signal SWFB is set identical between both comparisonprocesses in the CDS reset period and the CDS signal reading period asillustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

Note that in the present technology, the same reference signal is usedfor each of the multiple comparison processes. For example, in the caseof the example of FIG. 5, the comparison processes are sequentiallyperformed using each reference signal in the CDS reset period, whereasonly one of such comparison processes is performed in the CDS signalreading period. In this case, the value of the signal SWFB in one, usingthe same reference signal as that used for comparison in the signalreading period, of the comparison processes in the reset period is thesame as that in comparison in the signal reading period.

FIG. 6A illustrates an example of the signal SWFB when the referencesignal Vref1 with a high-gain slope and the signal Vx are compared witheach other in the signal reading period. In this case, the value of thesignal SWFB is “H” in both of comparison between the reference signalVref1 and the signal Vx in the reset period and comparison between thereference signal Vref1 and the signal Vx in the signal reading period.

FIG. 6B illustrates an example of the signal SWFB when the referencesignal Vref2 with a low-gain slope and the signal Vx are compared witheach other in the signal reading period. In this case, the value of thesignal SWFB is “L” in both of comparison between the reference signalVref2 and the signal Vx in the reset period and comparison between thereference signal Vref2 and the signal Vx in the signal reading period.

As described above, since the potential of the signal SWFB transmittedvia the signal line in which the parasitic capacitance is caused betweenthe signal line and the input terminal as the floating node of thecomparison unit 11 is the same between both of the reset period and thesignal reading period, the coupling voltage fluctuation amount isconstant. Thus, the error in the correlated double sampling result canbe reduced. That is, the error can be reduced without increasing thecircuit area of the A/D conversion unit, leading to more accurate A/Dconversion. Thus, an increase in the development and manufacturing costscan be suppressed. Further, an increase in the power consumption can bealso suppressed.

<Image Sensor>

A main configuration example of the image sensor as one embodiment of animaging element (a signal processing device) to which the presenttechnology is applied is illustrated in FIG. 7. An image sensor 100illustrated in FIG. 7 is a device configured to photoelectricallyconvert light from an object into image data to output the image data.For example, the image sensor 100 is configured as a complementary metaloxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor using a CMOS or a charge coupleddevice (CCD) image sensor using a CCD.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the image sensor 100 includes a pixel array111, an A/D conversion unit 112, and a horizontal transfer unit 113. Theimage sensor 100 further includes a control timing generation unit 121,a pixel scanning unit 122, and an A/D conversion control unit 123. Theimage sensor 100 still further includes a reference voltage generationunit 131 and a reference voltage generation unit 132.

The pixel array 111 is a pixel region in which pixel configurations(unit pixels) each having a photoelectric conversion element such as aphotodiode are arranged in a planer shape or a curved shape. In the caseof an example of FIG. 7, unit pixels 141 are arranged in a matrix (anarray). The pattern for arranging the unit pixels 141 is optional, andfor example, the unit pixels 141 may be arranged in other patterns thanthe matrix, such as a so-called honeycomb structure.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, a vertical signal line is formed for eachcolumn (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a “unit pixel column”) ofthe unit pixels 141. Each vertical signal line is connected to each unitpixel of a corresponding column (a corresponding unit pixel column), andis configured to transmit, to the A/D conversion unit 112, a signal(e.g., the pixel signal Vx) read from each unit pixel. Moreover, asillustrated in FIG. 7, a control line is formed for each row(hereinafter sometimes referred to as a “unit pixel row”) of the unitpixels 141. Each control line is connected to each unit pixel of acorresponding unit pixel row, and is configured to transmit, to eachunit pixel, a control signal supplied from the pixel scanning unit 122.

That is, each unit pixel 141 is connected to the vertical signal lineassigned to the column (the unit pixel column) to which such a unitpixel 141 belongs and the control line assigned to the unit pixel row towhich such a unit pixel 141 belongs. Each unit pixel 141 is driven onthe basis of the control signal supplied via the control line, andsupplies, via the vertical signal line, the A/D conversion unit 112 withan electric signal obtained by such a unit pixel 141 itself.

The reference voltage generation unit 131 is configured to generate thereference signal Vref1 (also referred to as the reference voltage Vref1)as a reference signal for A/D conversion with a predetermined gradationaccuracy by the A/D conversion unit 112. The waveform of the referencesignal Vref1 is optional. For example, the reference signal Vref1 may bea ramp wave (a saw tooth wave). An example where the ramp wave (Ramp) isused as the reference signal Vref1 will be described below. Thereference voltage generation unit 131 includes, for example, a D/Aconversion unit, and such a D/A conversion unit is configured togenerate the reference signal (Ramp). The reference signal (Ramp) issupplied to the A/D conversion unit 112 via a reference signal line.

The reference voltage generation unit 132 is configured to generate thereference signal Vref2 (also referred to as the reference voltage Vref2)as a reference signal for A/D conversion with a predetermined gradationaccuracy by the A/D conversion unit 112. The reference signal Vref2 is areference signal for A/D conversion with a different gradation accuracyfrom that of the reference signal Vref1. As long as the waveform of thereference signal Vref2 is the same type as that of the reference signalVref1, the waveform of the reference signal Vref2 is optional. Forexample, when the reference signal Vref1 is the ramp wave (the saw toothwave), the reference signal Vref2 is also a ramp wave (a saw toothwave). Note that a slope gradient is different between these signals.The reference voltage generation unit 132 includes, for example, a D/Aconversion unit, and such a D/A conversion unit is configured togenerate the reference signal (Ramp). The reference signal (Ramp) issupplied to the A/D conversion unit 112 via a reference signal line.

In description made below, the reference signal Vref1 and the referencesignal Vref2 are the ramp waves (Ramp), the reference signal Vref1 is areference signal with a high-gain slope for A/D conversion forlow-illuminance (high-accuracy) determination, and the reference signalVref2 is a reference signal with a low-gain slope for A/D conversion forhigh-illuminance (low-accuracy) determination (i.e., a reference signalwith a slope gradient sharper than that of the reference signal Vref1).

The A/D conversion unit 112 is configured to A/D convert, using thereference signal, the signal Vx as the analog signal (read from eachunit pixel) transmitted from the pixel array 111 via the vertical signalline, thereby outputting such digital data (digital output DO) to thehorizontal transfer unit 113.

The A/D conversion unit 112 includes a column A/D conversion unit 151for each column (each unit pixel column) of the pixel array 111, such asa column A/D conversion unit 151-1, a column A/D conversion unit 151-2,a column A/D conversion unit 151-3, . . . as illustrated in FIG. 7.

Each column A/D conversion unit 151 is connected to the vertical signalline of a corresponding column, the reference signal line via which thereference signal Vref1 is transmitted, and the reference signal line viawhich the reference signal Vref2 is transmitted. Each column A/Dconversion unit 151 is configured to use the reference signal Vref1 orthe reference signal Vref2 to A/D convert the signal Vx for acorresponding column.

Moreover, each column A/D conversion unit 151 is connected to a signalline connected to the horizontal transfer unit 113. Each column A/Dconversion unit 151 is configured to supply, via such a signal line, thehorizontal transfer unit 113 with the digital output DO as the digitaldata indicating an A/D conversion result obtained by such a column A/Dconversion unit 151 itself.

The horizontal transfer unit 113 is configured to transfer, to theoutside of the image sensor 100, the digital data (output OUT) suppliedfrom the A/D conversion unit 112, for example.

The control timing generation unit 121 is configured to supplypredetermined clock signals to the pixel scanning unit 122, the A/Dconversion control unit 123, the reference voltage generation unit 131,the reference voltage generation unit 132, and the horizontal transferunit 113, thereby controlling drive timing of these units.

The pixel scanning unit 122 is configured to supply, via the controlline, each unit pixel row of the pixel array 111 with the controlsignal, thereby controlling operation of a transistor of each unit pixel141. The A/D conversion control unit 123 is configured to supply acontrol signal via a control line, thereby controlling operation of theA/D conversion unit 112 (each column A/D conversion unit 151).

Note that each control line is illustrated as a single line in FIG. 7,but may include a plurality of control lines.

<Unit Pixel Configuration>

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a main circuit configuration example of each unitpixel 141. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the unit pixel 141 includes aphotodiode (PD) 161, a transfer transistor 162, a reset transistor 163,an amplification transistor 164, and a select transistor 165.

The photodiode (PD) 161 is configured to photoelectrically convertreceived light into the amount of optical charge (in this example,photoelectron) corresponding to the amount of received light, therebystoring the optical charge. The stored optical charge is read atpredetermined timing. An anode electrode of the photodiode (PD) 161 isconnected to the ground (the pixel ground) of the pixel region, and acathode electrode of the photodiode (PD) 161 is connected to a floatingdiffusion (FD) via the transfer transistor 162. Needless to say, asystem may be employed, in which the cathode electrode of the photodiode(PD) 161 is connected to a power supply (a pixel power supply) of thepixel region, the anode electrode of the photodiode (PD) 161 isconnected to the floating diffusion (FD) via the transfer transistor162, and the optical charge is read as a photohole.

The transfer transistor 162 is configured to control reading of theoptical charge from the photodiode (PD) 161. A drain electrode of thetransfer transistor 162 is connected to the floating diffusion, and asource electrode of the transfer transistor 162 is connected to thecathode electrode of the photodiode (PD) 161. Moreover, a gate electrodeof the transfer transistor 162 is connected to a transfer control line(TRG) via which a transfer control signal supplied from the pixelscanning unit 122 is transmitted. That is, this transfer control line(TRG) is included in the control lines illustrated in FIG. 7.

When the signal of the transfer control line (TRG) (i.e., the gatepotential of the transfer transistor 162) is OFF, no optical charge istransferred from the photodiode (PD) 161 (the optical charge is storedin the photodiode (PD) 161). On the other hand, when the signal of thetransfer control line (TRG) is ON, the optical charge stored in thephotodiode (PD) 161 is transferred to the floating diffusion (FD).

The reset transistor 163 is configured to reset the potential of thefloating diffusion (FD). A drain electrode of the reset transistor 163is connected to a power supply potential, and a source electrode of thereset transistor 163 is connected to the floating diffusion (FD).Moreover, a gate electrode of the reset transistor 163 is connected to areset control line (RST) via which a reset control signal supplied fromthe pixel scanning unit 122 is transmitted. That is, this reset controlline (RST) is included in the control lines illustrated in FIG. 7.

When the signal of the reset control line (RST) (i.e., the gatepotential of the reset transistor 163) is OFF, the floating diffusion(FD) is disconnected from the power supply potential. On the other hand,when the signal of the reset control line (RST) is ON, the charge of thefloating diffusion (FD) is discharged to the power supply potential, andthen, the floating diffusion (FD) is reset.

The amplification transistor 164 is configured to amplify a change inthe potential of the floating diffusion (FD) to output the resultant asan electric signal (an analog signal). A gate electrode of theamplification transistor 164 is connected to the floating diffusion(FD), a drain electrode of the amplification transistor 164 is connectedto a source follower power supply voltage, and a source electrode of theamplification transistor 164 is connected to a drain electrode of theselect transistor 165.

For example, the amplification transistor 164 outputs, to the selecttransistor 165, the potential of the floating diffusion (FD) reset bythe reset transistor 163 as a reset signal (a reset level). Moreover,the amplification transistor 164 outputs, to the select transistor 165,the potential of the floating diffusion (FD) as an optical storagesignal (an optical storage signal level), the optical charge beingtransferred to the floating diffusion (FD) by the transfer transistor162.

The select transistor 165 is configured to control output of theelectric signal supplied from the amplification transistor 164 to thevertical signal line (VSL) (i.e., the A/D conversion unit 112). A drainelectrode of the select transistor 165 is connected to the sourceelectrode of the amplification transistor 164, and a source electrode ofthe select transistor 165 is connected to the vertical signal line(VSL). Moreover, a gate electrode of the select transistor 165 isconnected to a select control line (SEL) via which a select controlsignal supplied from the pixel scanning unit 122 is transmitted. Thatis, this select control line (SEL) is included in the control linesillustrated in FIG. 7.

When the signal of the select control line (SEL) (i.e., the gatepotential of the select transistor 165) is OFF, the amplificationtransistor 164 and the vertical signal line (VSL) are electricallydisconnected from each other. Thus, in such a state, the reset signal,the pixel signal, etc. are not output from the unit pixel 141. On theother hand, when the signal of the select control line (SEL) is ON, theunit pixel 141 is in a selected state. That is, the amplificationtransistor 164 and the vertical signal line (VSL) are electricallyconnected to each other, and the signal output from the amplificationtransistor 164 is, as the analog signal read from the unit pixel 141,supplied to the vertical signal line (VSL). That is, the reset signal,the pixel signal, etc. are read from the unit pixel 141.

<Configuration of Column A/D Conversion Unit>

Next, a configuration example of each column A/D conversion unit 151will be described with reference to FIG. 9. As illustrated in FIG. 9,the column A/D conversion unit 151 includes a comparison unit 171 and acounter 172.

The comparison unit 171 is one form of the signal processing device towhich the present technology is applied. The comparison unit 171 isconfigured to select either one of the reference signal Vref1 and thereference signal Vref2 to compare the signal level of the signal Vx withthe signal level of the selected reference signal. The comparison unit171 performs such comparison multiple times. Then, the comparison unit171 supplies the counter 172 with a signal Vco indicating the comparisonresult every time comparison is made.

The counter 172 is configured to count a time (a clock number) until thecomparison result (a value of the signal Vco) changes after the start ofcomparison by the comparison unit 171. Such a counted value (digitaldata) is taken as the A/D conversion result of the signal Vx as theanalog signal. The counter 172 supplies the horizontal transfer unit 113with the counted value as the digital output DO.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the comparison unit 171 includes a comparisonunit 181, a selection unit 182, a switching unit 183, a capacitor 184,and a capacitor 185.

For reducing an offset error, the capacitor 184 is connected to an inputterminal Vrefin of the comparison unit 181, and the capacitor 185 isconnected to an input terminal Vxin of the comparison unit 181. That is,the input terminal Vrefin and the input terminal Vxin of the comparisonunit 181 form floating nodes. With this configuration, even when thereis a threshold error in an input MOS, such an error is removed forinitialization by short-circuit of input and output of the comparisonunit 181, and a level in initialization can be stored in theseries-capacitance floating nodes.

The comparison unit 181 is configured to compare the signal level of thesignal Vx (the analog signal read from the pixel array 111) input to theinput terminal Vxin with the signal level of the reference signal (thereference signal Vref1 or the reference signal Vref2) input to the inputterminal Vrefin, thereby supplying the selection unit 182 and thecounter 172 with the signal Vco indicating such a comparison result. Thecomparison unit 181 performs such comparison multiple times. Thecomparison unit 181 supplies the selection unit 182 and the counter 172with the signal Vco indicating the comparison result every timecomparison is made.

The selection unit 182 is configured to select the reference signal tobe supplied to the comparison unit 181 on the basis of a control pulsesupplied from the A/D conversion control unit 123 and a signalindicating the comparison result output from the comparison unit 181.The selection unit 182 supplies the switching unit 183 with controlsignals (a control signal SW1 and a control signal SW2) for causing theswitching unit 183 to optionally switch connection such that theselected reference signal (the reference signal Vref1 or the referencesignal Vref2) is supplied to the comparison unit 181.

The switching unit 183 is configured to select either one of thereference signal Vref1 and the reference signal Vref2 on the basis ofcontrol by the selection unit 182, i.e., the control signal SW1 and thecontrol signal SW2 supplied from the selection unit 182, therebysupplying the capacitor 184 with the selected reference signal.

For example, the switching unit 183 includes a switch configured tocontrol connection between the reference signal line via which thereference signal Vref1 is transmitted and the capacitor 184, and aswitch configured to control connection between the reference signalline via which the reference signal Vref2 is transmitted and thecapacitor 184. The switch configured to control connection between thereference signal line via which the reference signal Vref1 istransmitted and the capacitor 184 is controlled according to the controlsignal SW1 supplied from the selection unit 182. The switch configuredto control connection between the reference signal line via which thereference signal Vref2 is transmitted and the capacitor 184 iscontrolled according to the control signal SW2 supplied from theselection unit 182.

According to values of these control signals, the switching unit 183turns on (ON) the switch between a desired reference signal line and thecapacitor 184, thereby connecting such a reference signal line to thecapacitor 184. Moreover, the switching unit 183 turns off (OFF) anotherswitch between another reference signal line and the capacitor 184,thereby disconnecting (bringing a non-connection state) such a referencesignal line from the capacitor 184.

The capacitor 184 is provided between the switching unit 183 and theinput terminal Vrefin of the comparison unit 181. The capacitor 185 isprovided between the vertical signal line VSL (the pixel array 111) ofthe pixel array 111 and the input terminal Vxin of the comparison unit181.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the selection unit 182 includes adetermination unit 191 and a switch control unit 192. The determinationunit 191 is configured to determine the reference signal to be selectedon the basis of the control pulse supplied from the A/D conversioncontrol unit 123 and the signal indicating the comparison result outputfrom the comparison unit 181. The determination unit 191 supplies, via apredetermined signal line, the switch control unit 192 with the signalindicating such a determination result, i.e., the signal SWFB indicatingthe reference signal to be selected by the selection unit 182.

The switch control unit 192 is configured to determine the values of thecontrol signal SW1 and the control signal SW2 according to the signalSWFB supplied via the signal line. The switch control unit 192 suppliesthe switching unit 183 with the control signals SW1, SW2 whose valueshave been determined, thereby controlling operation of the switchingunit 183.

With circuit miniaturization, the selection unit 182 is formed closer tothe comparison unit 181, and therefore, the parasitic capacitance iscaused between the signal line via which the signal SWFB from theselection unit 182 is transmitted and the input terminal Vrefin or theinput terminal Vxin as the floating node of the comparison unit 181.Note that the comparison unit 181 may be configured such that only oneof the input terminal Vrefin and the input terminal Vxin is the floatingnode.

When the comparison unit 181 performs signal level comparison multipletimes, the signal level of the signal SWFB is the same among thesecomparison processes. With this configuration, the influence of couplingvoltage fluctuation due to the parasitic capacitance on the comparisonresult obtained by the comparison unit 181 can be reduced.

<Selection Unit>

A main configuration example of the selection unit 182 is illustrated inFIG. 10. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the determination unit 191 of theselection unit 182 includes a NOT gate 201, a latch 202, and a switch203. The NOT gate 201 is configured to invert the output Vco of thecomparison unit 181 as one-bit digital data. The latch 202 is configuredto hold such output of the NOT gate 201 at timing corresponding to thecontrol signal ϕfb supplied from the A/D conversion control unit 123,thereby outputting such a held value (JUD).

The switch 203 is configured to select, according to the value of thecontrol signal ADP supplied from the A/D conversion control unit 123,either one of the output JUD of the latch 202 and the signal SWSQsupplied from the A/D conversion control unit 123. For example, when thevalue of the control signal ADP is “1,” the switch 203 selects theoutput JUD of the latch 202. Moreover, when the value of the controlsignal ADP is “0,” the switch 203 selects the signal SWSQ, for example.The switch 203 supplies, as the signal SWFB, the switch control unit 192with the selected signal.

The switch control unit 192 includes an amplifier 204 and a NOT gate205. The amplifier 204 is configured to amplify the signal SWFB tosupply, as the control signal SW1, the switching unit 183 with theamplified signal SWFB. The NOT gate 205 is configured to invert thesignal SWFB as one-bit digital data, thereby supplying, as the controlsignal SW2, the switching unit 183 with the inverted signal SWFB.

<Flow of A/D Conversion Processing>

Next, an example of A/D conversion by the column A/D conversion unit 151will be described.

The column A/D conversion unit 151 performs A/D conversion as in atiming chart illustrated in FIG. 11. That is, in the CDS reset period,the column A/D conversion unit 151 first uses the reference signal Vref1with the high-gain slope to perform A/D conversion of the reset signalread from the unit pixel 141, thereby obtaining a signal N1(HG)(high-accuracy noise output). Next, in the CDS reset period, the columnA/D conversion unit 151 uses the reference signal Vref2 with thelow-gain slope to perform A/D conversion of the reset signal read fromthe unit pixel 141, thereby obtaining a signal N2(LG) (low-accuracynoise output). Next, the column A/D conversion unit 151 determines thesignal level of the pixel signal read from the unit pixel 141(determination). According to such a determination result, the columnA/D conversion unit 151 selects the reference signal Vref1 or thereference signal Vref2. Then, in the CDS signal reading period, thecolumn A/D conversion unit 151 uses the selected reference signal toperform A/D conversion of the signal level of the pixel signal read fromthe unit pixel 141, thereby obtaining a signal S1(HG) or a signal S2(LG)(signal output).

As illustrated in FIG. 11, since the value of the control signal ADP is“0” in the CDS reset period, the values of the control signal SW1 andthe control signal SW2 are determined according to the value of thecontrol signal SWSQ. That is, in the CDS reset period, the value of thecontrol signal SWSQ sequentially becomes “1” or “0,” and therefore, thereference signal Vref1 and the reference signal Vref2 are sequentiallyselected. Thus, A/D conversion for the high-gain slope and A/Dconversion for the low-gain slope are sequentially performed.

Thus, in the CDS reset period, the signal SWFB sequentially becomes avalue of “1” or “0” as in the control signal SW1.

Moreover, using the pulse of the control signal (Mb, the output Vco ofthe comparison unit 181 is latched in a determination period. Then, inthe CDS signal reading period, the value of the control signal ADP is“1,” and the values of the control signal SW1 and the control signal SW2are determined according to the value of the output JUD of the latch202. That is, in the CDS signal reading period, the reference signalVref1 or the reference signal Vref2 is selected according to the outputJUD of the latch 202, i.e., the determination result of the signal levelof the pixel signal in the determination period. Using the selectedreference signal, A/D conversion (A/D conversion for the high-gain slopeor A/D conversion for the low-gain slope) is performed.

Thus, in the CDS signal reading period, the signal SWFB is a value of“1” or “0” (the value according to the determination result of thesignal level of the pixel signal in the determination period) as in thecontrol signal SW1. That is, in the case of selecting the lowilluminance (A/D conversion for the high-gain slope), the value of thesignal SWFB is “1.” In the case of selecting the high illuminance (A/Dconversion for the low-gain slope), the value of the signal SWFB is “0.”

That is, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the potential (the signal SWFB) ofthe signal line of the selection unit 182 is the same between the caseof obtaining the signal N1 and the case of obtaining the signal S1 andbetween the case of obtaining the signal N2 and the case of obtainingthe signal S2, the parasitic capacitance being caused between the signalline and the input terminal Vrefin or the input terminal Vxin as thefloating node of the comparison unit 181.

Thus, a difference in the coupling voltage fluctuation amount betweenthe signal S1 and the signal N1 (or between the signal S2 and the signalN2) can be reduced, and both signals are subtracted so that the errordue to coupling voltage fluctuation can be reduced. That is, the errorin the correlated double sampling result (S1−N1 or S2−N2) can be reducedwithout an increase in the circuit area of the A/D conversion unit,leading to more accurate A/D conversion. Thus, an increase in thedevelopment and manufacturing costs can be suppressed. Moreover, anincrease in the power consumption can be also suppressed.

Note that the column A/D conversion unit 151 is, as in an example ofFIG. 11, configured such that both of the reference signal Vref1 withthe high-gain slope and the reference signal Vref2 with the low-gainslope fluctuate (sweep) in a voltage decrease direction, but may beconfigured such that one or both of the reference signals fluctuate in avoltage increase direction. For example, as in a timing chartillustrated in FIG. 12, the reference signal Vref2 with the low-gainslope may fluctuate in the voltage increase direction. This case issimilar to the case of FIG. 11, except for a reference signal sweepdirection. That is, in this case, the error in the correlated doublesampling result (S1−N1 or S2−N2) can be also reduced without an increasein the circuit area of the A/D conversion unit, leading to more accurateA/D conversion. Thus, an increase in the development and manufacturingcosts can be suppressed. Moreover, an increase in the power consumptioncan be also suppressed.

2. Second Embodiment

<Comparison Unit Initialization and Determination>

In the first embodiment, reduction in the error due to the change in thecoupling voltage fluctuation amount in comparison of the reset signaland comparison of the pixel signal has been described. Similarly, uponcompletion of initialization of the comparison unit 11 and completion ofdetermination of the signal level of the pixel signal, when thefluctuation amount of the coupling voltage on the floating node of thecomparison unit 11 changes, this might lead to a determination error.

<Control of Signal SWFB>

For the above-described reasons, a signal line which is included in aselection unit configured to select, from a plurality of referencesignals, a reference signal to be supplied to an input terminal as afloating node of a comparison unit and in which a parasitic capacitanceis caused between the signal line and the input node as the floatingnode of the comparison unit is configured to transmit the same level ofsignal in both of initialization of the comparison unit and comparisonbetween the signal level of a pixel signal and the signal level of apredetermined reference signal by the comparison unit. For example, inthe case of performing A/D conversion as in the example of FIG. 5, avalue of a signal SWFB is the same between a period for initialization(comparator initialization) and a period for determining the signallevel of the pixel signal (illuminance determination) as illustrated inFIG. 13.

As described above, in both of initialization of the comparison unit andcomparison between the signal level of the pixel signal and the signallevel of the predetermined reference signal by the comparison unit, thesame potential of the signal SWFB transmitted via the signal line isapplied, the parasitic capacitance being caused between the signal lineand the input terminal as the floating node of the comparison unit.Thus, a coupling voltage fluctuation amount becomes constant, and theinfluence of the parasitic capacitance can be canceled out and reduced.Thus, an error in an illuminance determination result obtained bysubtracting an initialization result of the comparison unit from adetermination result of the signal level of the pixel signal can bereduced. That is, the error can be reduced without an increase in acircuit area of an A/D conversion unit, leading to more accurate A/Dconversion. Thus, an increase in development and manufacturing costs canbe suppressed. Further, an increase in power consumption can be alsosuppressed.

<Flow of A/D Conversion Processing>

In the above-described case, each column A/D conversion unit 151 mayperform A/D conversion as in a timing chart illustrated in FIG. 14.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the column A/D conversion unit 151 performsA/D conversion as in the example of FIG. 11 after initialization of acomparison unit 181. As illustrated in FIG. 14, in a period(initialization) for initialization of the comparison unit 181 and aperiod (determination) for determining the signal level of the pixelsignal, a value of a control signal ADP is “0.” Thus, in these periods,values of a control signal SW1 and a control signal SW2 are determinedaccording to a value of a control signal SWSQ. That is, in theseperiods, the value of the signal SWFB is determined according to thevalue of the control signal SWSQ.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, in both of the period (initialization) forinitialization of the comparison unit 181 and the period (determination)for determining the signal level of the pixel signal, the same value ofthe control signal SWSQ is applied (“1” is applied). Thus, in theseperiods, the same value of the signal SWFB is also applied (“1” isapplied).

That is, the potential (the signal SWFB) of a signal line of a selectionunit 182 is the same between the time of completion of initialization ofthe comparison unit and the time of completion of determination of thesignal level of the pixel signal, a parasitic capacitance being causedbetween the signal line and an input terminal Vrefin or an inputterminal Vxin as a floating node of the comparison unit 181.

Thus, a difference in the coupling voltage fluctuation amount betweenthe initialization result (Vini) of the comparison unit and thedetermination result (Vjud) of the signal level of the pixel signal canbe reduced, and both results are subtracted so that an error due tocoupling voltage fluctuation can be reduced. That is, the error in theilluminance determination result (Vjud−Vini) can be reduced without anincrease in the circuit area of the A/D conversion unit, leading to moreaccurate A/D conversion. Thus, an increase in the development andmanufacturing costs can be suppressed. Moreover, an increase in thepower consumption can be also suppressed.

Note that in an example of FIG. 14, not only the difference in thecoupling voltage fluctuation amount between the initialization result ofthe comparison unit and the determination result of the signal level ofthe pixel signal is reduced, but also a difference in the couplingvoltage fluctuation amount between a signal S1 and a signal N1 (orbetween a signal S2 and a signal N2) is reduced. However, only thedifference in the coupling voltage fluctuation amount between theinitialization result of the comparison unit and the determinationresult of the signal level of the pixel signal may be reduced. Moreover,as in the example of FIG. 14, the column A/D conversion unit 151 may beconfigured such that both of a reference signal Vref1 with a high-gainslope and a reference signal Vref2 with a low-gain slope fluctuate(sweep) in a voltage decrease direction, but may be configured such thatone or both of the reference signals fluctuate in a voltage increasedirection. Further, in the case of the present embodiment, only one ofthe input terminal Vrefin and the input terminal Vxin of the comparisonunit 181 may be the floating node as in the case of the firstembodiment.

3. Third Embodiment

<Connection Between Comparison Unit and Counter>

In each of the above-described embodiments, the signal line between thecomparison unit 171 (the comparison unit 181) and the counter 172 isillustrated as connection via a single line for the sake of description.In fact, a plurality of signal lines connect between the comparison unit171 (the comparison unit 181) and the counter 172 as in an example ofFIG. 15, for example.

In the example of FIG. 15, each column A/D conversion unit 151 includesa latch 301 and a latch 302. The latch 301 is illustrated as a simpleform of a selection unit 182 (FIG. 9). The output Vco of the comparisonunit 181 in a period for determining the signal level of a pixel signalis latched by the latch 301, and control signals (a control signal SW1and a control signal SW2) corresponding to such a value are supplied toa switching unit 183.

Moreover, on the basis of the latched output Vco of the comparison unit181, the latch 301 supplies the latch 302 with an identification signalFLAG for identifying a slope gain for controlling a value of the counter172. The latch 302 latches the identification signal FLAG. According toa value of the identification signal FLAG, the latch 302 supplies, atpredetermined timing, the counter 172 with a control signal foradjusting the speed (e.g., the magnification) of counting of the counter172 to that of a slope signal of a reference signal.

In this case, there are two signal lines between the comparison unit 181and the counter 172 as illustrated in FIG. 15. Thus, there is aprobability that a circuit area increases by such signal lines and thatdevelopment and manufacturing costs and power consumption increase.Particularly in the case where the comparison unit 181 and the counter172 are formed on different semiconductor substrates, the signal linesbetween the comparison unit 181 and the counter 172 need to be providedwith connection units such as bumps. However, in the case of the exampleof FIG. 15, the number of bumps increases, and for this reason, there isa probability that the circuit area increases and that the developmentand manufacturing costs and the power consumption increase.

For the above-described reasons, the column A/D conversion unit 151 maybe configured as illustrated in FIG. 16. In the case of an example ofFIG. 16, the column A/D conversion unit 151 includes, instead of thelatch 301 and the latch 302 in FIG. 15, a latch 311 and a latch 312.

As in the latch 301, the latch 311 latches the output Vco of thecomparison unit 181 in the period for determining the signal level ofthe pixel signal, and supplies the switching unit 183 with the controlsignals (the control signal SW1 and the control signal SW2)corresponding to such a value. However, the latch 311 supplies no signalto the latch 312.

The latch 312 obtains and latches, without latching the identificationsignal FLAG, the output Vco of the comparison unit 181 from the vicinityof the counter 172 in the signal line between the comparison unit 181and the counter 172. According to a value of the output Vco, the latch312 supplies the counter 172 with a control signal for adjusting thespeed (e.g., the magnification) of counting of the counter 172 to thatof the slope signal of the reference signal.

With such a configuration, a majority of the signal lines between thecomparison unit 181 and the counter 172 can be formed as a single line,and an increase in the circuit area can be more suppressed as comparedto the case of the configuration example of FIG. 15. Moreover, thesingle-line portion of these signal lines is provided with theconnection unit (e.g., the bump), and therefore, an increase in thenumber of connection units can be more suppressed as compared to thecase of the configuration example of FIG. 15. Thus, even when thecomparison unit 181 and the counter 172 are formed on the differentsemiconductor substrates, an increase in the circuit area can be moresuppressed as compared to the case of the configuration example of FIG.15.

However, in the case of the configuration example of FIG. 16, a circuitconfigured to obtain a determination result (the output Vco of thecomparison unit 181) of the signal level of the pixel signal is not asingle-circuit system (the latch 311 and the latch 312 obtains thedetermination result from different points), and for this reason, thereis a probability that the latch 311 and the latch 312 are different fromeach other in the timing of obtaining the determination result (oneobtaining timing is deviated from the other). Then, due to suchobtaining timing deviation, data latched by the latch 311 and datalatched by the latch 312 might be different from each other, leading tofailure in calculation.

<Mixture of Comparison Result and Control Signal>

For the above-described reasons, a mixing unit is configured to mix thesignal indicating the comparison result obtained by the comparison unitwith a signal indicating the reference signal selected by the selectionunit. Moreover, a measurement unit is configured to measure a time untila value of the signal indicating the comparison result obtained by thecomparison unit changes and output such a measurement result as an A/Dconversion result of an analog signal, the signal being contained in asignal output from the mixing unit and transmitted via a single signalline. Further, a control unit is configured to control measurement ofthe measurement unit on the basis of the signal indicating the referencesignal selected by the selection unit, the signal being contained in thesignal output from the mixing unit and transmitted via the single signalline.

That is, the following units are provided: the mixing unit configured tomix the signal indicating the comparison result obtained by thecomparison unit with the signal indicating the reference signal selectedby the selection unit; the measurement unit configured to measure thetime until the value of the signal indicating the comparison resultobtained by the comparison unit changes and output the measurementresult as the A/D conversion result of the analog signal, the signalbeing contained in the signal output from the mixing unit andtransmitted via the single signal line; and the control unit configuredto control measurement of the measurement unit on the basis of thesignal indicating the reference signal selected by the selection unit,the signal being contained in the signal output from the mixing unit andtransmitted via the single signal line.

With this configuration, the signal indicating the comparison resultobtained by the comparison unit and the signal indicating the referencesignal selected by the selection unit can be transmitted from thecomparison unit to the measurement unit via the single signal line.Thus, an increase in the circuit area can be suppressed. Moreover, anincrease in the number of connection units can be suppressed. As aresult, even when the comparison unit and the measurement unit areformed on different semiconductor substrates, an increase in the circuitarea can be suppressed.

<Column A/D Conversion Unit>

In this case, the configuration of the image sensor 100 is basicallysimilar to that of the case of each embodiment described above. Onlypoints which need to be described regarding the configuration andoperation of the image sensor 100 will be described below. For pointswhose description will not be made, the same description in eachembodiment described above is applicable, or optional configurations andoperation are applicable.

A main configuration example of the column A/D conversion unit 151 inthis case will be illustrated in FIG. 17. In the case of the example ofFIG. 17, the column A/D conversion unit 151 includes, instead of thelatch 301 and the latch 302 in FIG. 15, a latch 321, a multiplexer 322,an electrode 323, and a latch 324.

As in the latch 301, the latch 321 is illustrated as a simple form ofthe selection unit 182 (FIG. 9). The output Vco of the comparison unit181 in the period for determining the signal level of the pixel signalis latched by the latch 321, and the control signals (the control signalSW1 and the control signal SW2) corresponding to such a value aresupplied to the switching unit 183.

Moreover, on the basis of the latched output Vco of the comparison unit181, the latch 321 supplies the multiplexer 322 with the identificationsignal FLAG for identifying the slope gain for controlling the value ofthe counter 172.

The multiplexer (MUX) 322 is configured to mix the identification signalFLAG with the output Vco of the comparison unit 181 in the period fordetermining the signal level of the pixel signal, thereby supplying thecounter 172 with the resultant mixed signal. The multiplexer 322 mixesthe output Vco of the comparison unit 181 and the control signal FLAGsuch that these signals are transmitted in different periods via asingle signal line. Such mixture will be described later in detail.

The electrode 323 is a connection unit such as a bump (BUMP) or a via(VIA). The counter 172 and the latch 324 are formed on a semiconductorsubstrate different from that for the multiplexer 322 and theconfiguration illustrated on the left side of the multiplexer 322 inFIG. 17. The electrode 323 is the connection unit configured to connectcircuits between a plurality of semiconductors as described above. Notethat the counter 172 and the latch 324 may be formed on the samesemiconductor substrate as that for the multiplexer 322 and theconfiguration illustrated on the left side of the multiplexer 322 inFIG. 17. In this case, the electrode 323 can be omitted.

As in the latch 312, the latch 324 obtains the mixed signal from thevicinity of the counter 172 (at least from the side closer to thecounter 172 with respect to the electrode 323) in the signal linebetween the comparison unit 181 and the counter 172, thereby latchingthe control signal FLAG contained in the mixed signal. According to thevalue of the output Vco, the latch 312 supplies the counter 172 with thecontrol signal for adjusting the speed (e.g., the magnification) ofcounting of the counter 172 to that of the slope signal of the referencesignal.

The counter 172 is configured to perform counting according to such acontrol signal.

<Comparison Unit>

A main configuration example of the comparison unit 181 in this casewill be illustrated in FIG. 18. As illustrated in FIG. 18, thecomparison unit 181 is configured using a comparison unit 331, a NOTgate 332, and a NAND gate 333, for example.

The NOT gate 332 obtains a logical NOT of the result of comparisonbetween an analog signal VSL read from the unit pixel 141 and areference signal DAC by the comparison unit 331, and then, the NAND gate333 outputs such a logical NOT to the latch 321 and the multiplexer 322at timing controlled according to a control signal STB. That is, theoutput timing of the output Vco of the comparison unit 181 can becontrolled using the control signal STB.<Flow of Mixture>

In this case, the image sensor 100 (the column A/D conversion unit 151)also performs A/D conversion as in the case of each embodiment describedabove. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 19, the multiplexer 322outputs the output Vco of the comparison unit 181 in a CDS reset period(a P-phase and a P-phase 2) and a CDS signal reading period (a D-phase),and outputs the control signal FLAG in the period for determining thesignal level of the pixel signal.

The counter 172 does not perform counting in a determination period, andthe latch 324 latches the control signal FLAG before the CDS signalreading period. Thus, as in an example of FIG. 19, the multiplexer 322mixes the output Vco of the comparison unit 181 and the control signalFLAG, and in this manner, the counter 172 and the latch 324 can obtainrequired signals via a single signal line.

That is, with this configuration, the latch 324 can latch the controlsignal FLAG generated by the latch 321, and can control the counter 172on the basis of the control signal FLAG. Thus, the column A/D conversionunit 151 is configured such that the timing of obtaining thedetermination result is the same between the latch 321 and the latch324, and therefore, the data to be latched can be the same between thelatch 321 and the latch 324 at all times. This can reduce failure incalculation.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 17, a majority (the signal lines fromthe multiplexer 322 to a point from which the latch 324 obtains themixed signal) of the signal lines between the comparison unit 181 andthe counter 172 can be formed as a single line, and an increase in thecircuit area can be suppressed. Further, an increase in the number ofelectrodes 323 formed at such a single-line portion of the signal linescan be suppressed. Thus, even when the comparison unit 181 and thecounter 172 are formed on the different semiconductor substrates, anincrease in the circuit area can be suppressed.

That is, the column A/D conversion unit 151 (i.e., the image sensor 100)can reduce failure in calculation while suppressing an increase in thecircuit area and an increase in the development and manufacturing costs.Further, an increase in the power consumption can be also suppressed.

Note that as illustrated in FIG. 19, when any of the above-describedsignals is not output, the multiplexer 322 may be in a stand-by statefor subsequent output. For example, before the comparison unit 181outputs a reset signal comparison result (at timing before “P-PHASE” inan “OUTPUT” section in FIG. 19 begins), the multiplexer 322 may selectand output the output Vco of the comparison unit 181 (“VCO” on the leftside of “FLAG” in a “MUX SELECTION” section in FIG. 19 may begin).Alternatively, before the comparison unit 181 outputs the result ofdetermination of the signal level of the pixel signal (at timing before“DETERMINATION” in the “OUTPUT” section in FIG. 19 begins), themultiplexer 322 may select and output the control signal FLAG (“FLAG” inthe “MUX SELECTION” section in FIG. 19 may begin), for example. Further,as another alternative, before the comparison unit 181 outputs the pixelsignal comparison result (at timing before “D-PHASE” in the “OUTPUT”section in FIG. 19 begins), the multiplexer 322 may select and outputthe output Vco of the comparison unit 181 (“VCO” on the right side of“FLAG” in the “MUX SELECTION” section in FIG. 19 may begin), forexample.

<Column A/D Conversion Unit>

It has been described above that the output of the NAND gate 333 of thecomparison unit 181 configured as illustrated in FIG. 18 is mixed withthe control signal FLAG. However, the configuration example of thecolumn A/D conversion unit 151 is not limited to such an example.

For example, a signal comparison unit may be configured to compare thesignal level of the analog signal with the signal level of the referencesignal, a logical NOT unit may be configured to obtain a logical NOT(perform inversion) of a comparison result obtained by the signalcomparison unit, a logical AND unit may be configured to obtain alogical AND of the output of the logical NOT unit and a predeterminedcontrol signal, and a logical NOR unit may be configured to obtain alogical NOR of the output of the logical AND unit and the signalindicating the reference signal selected by the selection unit.

A main configuration example of the column A/D conversion unit 151 inthis case is illustrated in FIG. 20. As illustrated in FIG. 20, thecolumn A/D conversion unit 151 has, in this case, a configurationbasically similar to the configuration examples of FIGS. 17 and 18.However, instead of the latch 321, the multiplexer 322, and the NANDgate 333 of the comparison unit 181, the column A/D conversion unit 151includes a latch 342, an AND gate 343, and a NOR gate 344. That is,instead of the NAND gate 333 and the multiplexer 322, the column A/Dconversion unit 151 includes a composite gate of the AND gate 343 andthe NOR gate 344.

The latch 342 is configured to latch the output (an internal signal ofthe comparison unit 181) of the NOT gate 332 of the comparison unit 181.The latch 342 supplies the switching unit 183 with the control signals(the control signal SW1 and the control signal SW2) corresponding tosuch a value. Moreover, the latch 342 generates, from the latchedsignal, a logical NOT of the identification signal FLAG for identifyingthe slope gain for controlling the value of the counter 172 on the basisof a control signal LATEN, and then, supplies the composite gate (theNOR gate 344) with such a signal.

At timing corresponding to control using a control signal VCOEN, the ANDgate 343 of the composite gate supplies the NOR gate 344 of thecomposite gate with the output (the internal signal of the comparisonunit 181) of the NOT gate 332 of the comparison unit 181.

The NOR gate 344 of the composite gate supplies, via a single signalline, the counter 172 with a logical NOT of the output (a logical NOT ofthe output VCO of the comparison unit 181) of the NOT gate 332 of thecomparison unit 181 or a logical NOT of the logical NOT of the controlsignal FLAG, i.e., the output VCO of the comparison unit 181 or thecontrol signal FLAG.

With this configuration, the output VCO of the comparison unit 181 andthe control signal FLAG can be transmitted to the counter 172 and thelatch 324 via a common signal line (a single signal line in a majorityportion). Moreover, an increase in the number of electrodes 323 formedin such a single-line portion of the signal lines can be suppressed.Thus, even when the comparison unit 181 and the counter 172 are formedon the different semiconductor substrates, an increase in the circuitarea can be suppressed.

That is, the column A/D conversion unit 151 (i.e., the image sensor 100)can, as in the case of the example of FIG. 17, reduce failure incalculation while suppressing an increase in the circuit area and anincrease in the development and manufacturing costs. Further, anincrease in the power consumption can be also suppressed.

Moreover, in the case of the example of FIG. 20, a two-stageconfiguration of the NAND gate 333 and the multiplexer 322 in thecomparison unit 181 as in the examples of FIGS. 17 and 18 is replacedwith a single-stage configuration of a mixed gate. With thisconfiguration, the influence of noise caused by power supply fluctuationdue to inversion for the comparison unit 331 can be more reduced and aLATCH signal can be obtained, as compared to the case of connecting manylogic circuits to a later stage.

4. Fourth Embodiment

<Physical Configuration of Image Sensor>

Note that an imaging element to which the present technology is appliedcan be implemented as a package (a chip) in which a semiconductorsubstrate is sealed or a module configured such that the package (thechip) is placed on a circuit board, for example. For example, in thecase of implementing the imaging element as the package (the chip), theimaging element may be, in the package (the chip), formed of a singlesemiconductor substrate, or may be formed of a plurality ofsemiconductor substrates overlapping with each other.

FIG. 21 is a diagram of an example of a physical configuration of theimage sensor 100 as the imaging element to which the present technologyis applied. An image sensor 400 illustrated in FIG. 21 is, as in theimage sensor 100 described in each embodiment above, an imaging elementconfigured to obtain an image of an object to obtain digital data of theobtained image. Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 21, the image sensor400 includes two semiconductor substrates (laminated substrates (a pixelsubstrate 401 and a circuit board 402)) overlapping with each other.That is, in the image sensor 400, the above-described circuitconfiguration of the image sensor 100 is formed on the laminatedsubstrates (the pixel substrate 401 and the circuit board 402).

The pixel substrate 401 is provided with a pixel region 411 in which aplurality of unit pixels each including a photoelectric conversionelement configured to photoelectrically convert incident light arearranged. Moreover, the circuit board 402 is provided with a peripheralcircuit region 412 in which a peripheral circuit configured to process asignal read from the pixel region 411 is formed.

As described above, the pixel substrate 401 and the circuit board 402overlap with each other, and form a multi-layer structure (a laminatedstructure). Each pixel of the pixel region 411 of the pixel substrate401 and the peripheral circuit of the peripheral circuit region 412 ofthe circuit board 402 are electrically connected together via, e.g., athrough-hole via (VIA) formed in each of via regions (VIA) 413 and viaregions (VIA) 414.

The present technology is also applicable to such an image sensor withthe laminated structure. Note that the number (the layer number) ofsemiconductor substrates (laminated substrates) is optional, and may bethree or more layers, for example. Needless to say, the plurality ofsemiconductor substrates employing the configuration of the image sensor100 do not necessarily form the laminated structure as described above.For example, these semiconductor substrates may be arranged next to eachother.

It has been described in each embodiment above that the column A/Dconversion unit 151 A/D converts the signals read from the unit pixels141 of the single column. However, the present invention is not limitedto such an example. The signals to be A/D converted by the column A/Dconversion unit 151 may be read from the unit pixels 141 belonging to anoptional unit pixel group assigned to the column A/D conversion unit 151itself. For example, the signals read from the unit pixels 141 ofmultiple columns of the pixel array 111 may be A/D converted.Alternatively, the column A/D conversion unit 151 may A/D convert thesignals read from the unit pixels 141 belonging to a partial region ofthe pixel array 111 assigned to the column A/D conversion unit 151itself, for example. Further, as another alternative, the column A/Dconversion unit 151 may A/D convert the signals sequentially suppliedfrom the unit pixels of all columns, for example. That is, the presenttechnology is also applicable to the A/D conversion unit 112.

Note that the present technology is applicable to other elements thanthe imaging element. For example, the column A/D conversion unit 151described above may be applied to other optional devices than the imagesensor. Alternatively, the column A/D conversion unit 151 may be anembodiment of the signal processing device to which the presenttechnology is applied. That is, the analog signal to be A/D converted bythe column A/D conversion unit 151 is optional, and the column A/Dconversion unit 151 may A/D convert other signals than the signal readfrom the unit pixel 141.

Moreover, the counter 172 may be configured in other devices (e.g.,other semiconductor substrates). That is, the comparison unit 171 may bean embodiment of the signal processing device to which the presenttechnology is applied.

5. Fifth Embodiment

<Imaging Device>

For example, the present technology may be applied to a device (e.g., anelectronic apparatus) including an imaging element, such as an imagingdevice. FIG. 22 is a block diagram of a main configuration example ofthe imaging device as an example of the electronic apparatus to whichthe present technology is applied. An imaging device 600 illustrated inFIG. 22 is a device configured to obtain an image of an object to outputthe image of the object as an electric signal.

As illustrated in FIG. 22, the imaging device 600 includes an opticalunit 611, a CMOS image sensor 612, an image processing unit 613, adisplay unit 614, a codec processing unit 615, a storage unit 616, anoutput unit 617, a communication unit 618, a control unit 621, anoperation unit 622, and a drive 623.

The optical unit 611 includes a lens configured to adjust a focal pointto the object to collect light from a position brought to a focus, adiaphragm configured to adjust exposure, and a shutter configured tocontrol imaging timing, for example. The optical unit 611 is configuredsuch that light (incident light) from the object is transmitted throughthe optical unit 611 and is supplied to the CMOS image sensor 612.

The CMOS image sensor 612 is configured to photoelectrically convert theincident light and perform A/D conversion and signal processing such asCDS for a signal (a pixel signal) from each pixel, thereby supplying theimage processing unit 613 with obtained image data after processing.

The image processing unit 613 is configured to process the image dataobtained by the CMOS image sensor 612. More specifically, the imageprocessing unit 613 performs, for the image data supplied from the CMOSimage sensor 612, various types of image processing such as mixed colorcorrection, black level correction, white balance adjustment, demosaicprocessing, matrix processing, gamma correction, and YC conversion. Theimage processing unit 613 supplies the display unit 614 with the imagedata subjected to the image processing.

The display unit 614 is configured as, e.g., a liquid crystal display,and is configured to display an image (e.g., the image of the object) ofthe image data supplied from the image processing unit 613.

If necessary, the image processing unit 613 further supplies the codecprocessing unit 615 with the image data subjected to the imageprocessing.

The codec processing unit 615 is configured to perform a predeterminedtype of encoding processing for the image data supplied from the imageprocessing unit 613, thereby supplying the storage unit 616 with theobtained encoded data. Moreover, the codec processing unit 615 isconfigured to read encoded data stored in the storage unit 616 anddecode such data to generate decoded image data, thereby supplying theimage processing unit 613 with the decoded image data.

The image processing unit 613 performs a predetermined type of imageprocessing for the decoded image data supplied from the codec processingunit 615. The image processing unit 613 supplies the display unit 614with the decoded image data subjected to the image processing. Thedisplay unit 614 is configured as, e.g., a liquid crystal display, anddisplays an image of the decoded image data supplied from the imageprocessing unit 613.

Moreover, the codec processing unit 615 may supply the output unit 617with encoded data obtained by encoding of the image data supplied fromthe image processing unit 613 or encoded data of the image data readfrom the storage unit 616, thereby outputting such data to the outsideof the imaging device 600. Alternatively, the codec processing unit 615may supply the output unit 617 with the image data before encoding orthe decoded image data obtained by decoding of the encoded data readfrom the storage unit 616, thereby outputting such data to the outsideof the imaging device 600.

Further, the codec processing unit 615 may transmit the image data, theencoded data of the image data, or the decoded image data to otherdevices via the communication unit 618. Moreover, the codec processingunit 615 may obtain the image data or the encoded data of the image datavia the communication unit 618. The codec processing unit 615 optionallyencodes or decodes the image data or the encoded data of the image dataobtained via the communication unit 618, for example. As describedabove, the codec processing unit 615 may supply the obtained image dataor encoded data to the image processing unit 613, and may output suchdata to the storage unit 616, the output unit 617, and the communicationunit 618.

The storage unit 616 is configured to store, e.g., the encoded datasupplied from the codec processing unit 615. The encoded data stored inthe storage unit 616 is, as necessary, read and decoded by the codecprocessing unit 615. The image data obtained by decoding processing issupplied to the display unit 614, and the image corresponding to theobtained image data is displayed.

The output unit 617 includes an external output interface such as anexternal output terminal, and is configured to output various types ofdata to the outside of the imaging device 600 via the external outputinterface, the data being supplied via the codec processing unit 615.

The communication unit 618 is configured to supply another device as acommunication partner in predetermined communication (wiredcommunication or wireless communication) with various types ofinformation such as the image data or the encoded data supplied from thecodec processing unit 615. Moreover, the communication unit 618 isconfigured to obtain various types of information such as the image dataor the encoded data from another device as the communication partner inthe predetermined communication (the wired communication or the wirelesscommunication), thereby supplying the codec processing unit 615 withsuch information.

The control unit 621 is configured to control operation of eachprocessing unit (each processing unit within a dashed line 620, theoperation unit 622, and the drive 623) of the imaging device 600.

The operation unit 622 includes an optional input device such as a jogdial (trademark), a key, a button, or a touch panel, and is configuredto receive, e.g., user's operation input to supply the control unit 621with a signal corresponding to the operation input.

The drive 623 is configured to read information stored in a removablemedium 624 attached to the drive 623 itself, such as a magnetic disk, anoptical disk, a magnetic optical disk, or a semiconductor memory. Thedrive 623 reads various types of information such as a program and datafrom the removable medium 624, and then, supplies the control unit 621with such information. Moreover, when the writable removable medium 624is attached to the drive 623 itself, the drive 623 can store, in theremovable medium 624, various types of information supplied via thecontrol unit 621, such as the image data or the encoded data.

The present technology as described in each embodiment above is appliedas the above-described CMOS image sensor 612 of the imaging device 600.That is, the above-described image sensor 100 is used as the CMOS imagesensor 612. With this configuration, the size of the CMOS image sensor612 can be more easily reduced, and an increase in development andmanufacturing costs can be suppressed. Further, an increase in powerconsumption can be also suppressed.

Thus, since the above-described image sensor 100 is applied as the CMOSimage sensor 612 of the imaging device 600, the size of the CMOS imagesensor 612 can be more reduced, and therefore, reduction in the size ofthe imaging device 600 can be more easily realized. Moreover, withreduction in the size of the CMOS image sensor 612, designing andmanufacturing can be more facilitated, and the cost of the CMOS imagesensor 612 is further reduced. Thus, an increase in the development andmanufacturing costs of the imaging device 600 can be suppressed.Further, the power consumption of the CMOS image sensor 612 is reduced,and therefore, an increase in the power consumption can be alsosuppressed.

The above-described series of processing can be implemented by hardware,or can be implemented by software. In the case of executing theabove-described series of processing by the software, a program formingthe software is installed from a network or a recording medium.

For example, such a recording medium includes, as illustrated in FIG.22, the removable medium 624 arranged separately from a device body torecord a program, the removable medium being distributed for deliveringa program to a user. The removable medium 624 includes a magnetic disk(including a flexible disk) or an optical disk (including a CD-ROM or aDVD). The removable medium 624 further includes a magnetic optical disk(including a Mini Disc (MD)) or a semiconductor memory.

In this case, the program can be installed on the storage unit 616 insuch a manner that the removable medium 624 is attached to the drive623.

Moreover, the program can be also provided via a wired or wirelesstransmission medium such as a local area network, the Internet, anddigital satellite broadcasting. In this case, the program can bereceived by the communication unit 618, and then, can be installed onthe storage unit 616.

In addition, the program can be installed in advance on, e.g., a readonly memory (ROM) in the storage unit 616 or the control unit 621.

Note that the program to be executed by a computer may be a program forperforming processing in chronological order as described in the presentspecification or a program for performing processing in parallel orperforming processing at desired timing such as timing upon calling.

Moreover, in the present specification, steps for the program recordedin the recording medium include, needless to say, not only theprocessing performed in chronological order as described in the presentspecification, but also the processing not necessarily performed inchronological order but executed in parallel or individually.

Further, each processing step described above can be executed in each ofthe above-described devices or other optional devices than each of theabove-described devices. In this case, the device configured to executethe processing may has functions (e.g., functional blocks) required forexecuting the processing. Moreover, information required for theprocessing may be optionally transmitted to the device.

In addition, in the present specification, the “system” means a group ofmultiple components (devices, modules (parts), etc.), and it is not amatter of whether or not all of the components are in the same housing.Thus, any of a plurality of devices housed in separate housings andconnected together via a network and a single device configured suchthat a plurality of modules are housed in a single housing is consideredas the system.

Moreover, the configuration described above as the single device (or thesingle processing unit) may be divided to form a plurality of devices(or a plurality of processing units). Conversely, the configurationsdescribed above as the plurality of devices (or the plurality ofprocessing units) may be collectively configured as a single device (ora single processing unit). In addition, needless to say, otherconfigurations than above may be added to the configuration of eachdevice (or each processing unit). Further, as long as the sameconfiguration and operation of the entire system are substantiallyapplied, part of a certain device (or a certain processing unit) may beincluded in the configuration of another device (or another processingunit).

The preferable embodiments of the present disclosure have been describedabove in detail with reference to the attached drawings, but thetechnical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to suchexamples. It is obvious that a person having ordinary skill in thetechnical field of the present disclosure arrives at various changes ormodifications within the scope of the technical idea described in theclaims. It is appreciated that these changes and modifications fallwithin the technical scope of the present disclosure, needless to say.

For example, the present technology can employ a cloud computingconfiguration for processing a single function in a shared andcooperative manner by a plurality of devices via a network.

Moreover, each step described with reference to the above-described flowchart can be not only executed by a single device, but also executed ina shared manner by a plurality of devices.

Further, in the case where a single step includes multiple types ofprocessing, such multiple types of processing in the single step can benot only executed by a single device, but also executed in a sharedmanner by a plurality of devices.

In addition, the present technology is not limited to above, and can beimplemented as any configuration provided in the device or the devicesforming the system as described above, such as a processor as a systemlarge scale integration (LSI), a module using a plurality of processors,a unit using a plurality of modules, a set (i.e., a partialconfiguration of the device) configured such that other functions arefurther added to the unit.

Note that the present technology can also employ the followingconfigurations.

(1) A signal processing device including:

a comparison unit configured to compare a signal level of an analogsignal with a signal level of a reference signal;

a selection unit configured to select, from a plurality of referencesignals, the reference signal to be supplied to the comparison unit; and

a switching unit capable of switching a signal line connected to aninput terminal of the comparison unit such that a signal line via whichthe reference signal selected by the selection unit is transmitted isconnected to the input terminal of the comparison unit,

wherein the comparison unit includes a floating node as the inputterminal,

the selection unit includes a signal line in which a parasiticcapacitance is caused between the signal line and the floating node asthe input terminal of the comparison unit, and

the signal line of the selection unit is configured to transmit anidentical level of signal in multiple comparison processes performed bythe comparison unit.

(2) The signal processing device according to (1), wherein

the comparison unit sequentially compares a signal level of a resetsignal read from a unit pixel with each signal level of the plurality ofreference signals,

the selection unit selects any one of the plurality of reference signalsaccording to a signal level of a pixel signal read from the unit pixel,

the switching unit switches, as necessary, the signal line connected tothe input terminal of the comparison unit such that the signal line viawhich the reference signal selected by the selection unit is transmittedis connected to the input terminal of the comparison unit,

the comparison unit further compares the signal level of the pixelsignal with the signal level of the reference signal selected by theselection unit, and

the signal line of the selection unit transmits the identical level ofsignal in both of comparison, by the comparison unit, between the signallevel of the reset signal and the signal level of the reference signalselected by the selection unit and comparison between the signal levelof the pixel signal and the signal level of the reference signal by thecomparison unit.

(3) The signal processing device according to (2), wherein

a signal level of the signal transmitted via the signal line of theselection unit indicates the reference signal selected by the selectionunit.

(4) The signal processing device according to any of (1) to (3), wherein

the comparison unit is initialized, sequentially compares a signal levelof a reset signal read from a unit pixel with a signal level of eachreference signal, and compares a signal level of a pixel signal readfrom the unit pixel with a signal level of a predetermined referencesignal,

the selection unit selects any one of the plurality of reference signalson the basis of a result of comparison between the signal level of thepixel signal and the signal level of the predetermined reference signalby the comparison unit,

the switching unit switches, as necessary, the signal line connected tothe input terminal of the comparison unit such that the signal line viawhich the reference signal selected by the selection unit is transmittedis connected to the input terminal of the comparison unit,

the comparison unit further compares the signal level of the pixelsignal with the signal level of the reference signal selected by theselection unit, and

the signal line of the selection unit transmits the identical level ofsignal in both of initialization of the comparison unit and comparisonbetween the signal level of the pixel signal and the signal level of thepredetermined reference signal by the comparison unit.

(5) The signal processing device according to (4), wherein

a signal level of the signal transmitted via the signal line of theselection unit indicates the reference signal selected by the selectionunit.

(6) The signal processing device according to any of (1) to (5), wherein

the selection unit selects, from the plurality of reference signals, thereference signal to be supplied to the comparison unit on the basis of aresult of comparison performed by the comparison unit.

(7) The signal processing device according to any of (1) to (6), furtherincluding:

a measurement unit configured to measure a time until a result ofcomparison performed by the comparison unit changes and output ameasurement result as an A/D conversion result of the analog signal.

(8) The signal processing device according to any of (1) to (7), wherein

the comparison unit compares the signal level of the reference signalwith the signal level of the analog signal read from a unit pixel of apixel array belonging to a unit pixel group assigned to the comparisonunit itself.

(9) An imaging element including:

a pixel array configured such that unit pixels are arranged in a matrix;

a comparison unit configured to compare a signal level of an analogsignal read from each unit pixel of the pixel array with a signal levelof a reference signal;

a selection unit configured to select, from a plurality of referencesignals, the reference signal to be supplied to the comparison unit; and

a switching unit capable of switching a signal line connected to aninput terminal of the comparison unit such that a signal line via whichthe reference signal selected by the selection unit is transmitted isconnected to the input terminal of the comparison unit,

wherein the comparison unit includes a floating node as the inputterminal,

the selection unit includes a signal line in which a parasiticcapacitance is caused between the signal line and the floating node asthe input terminal of the comparison unit, and

the signal line of the selection unit is configured to transmit anidentical level of signal in multiple comparison processes performed bythe comparison unit.

(10) An electronic apparatus including:

an imaging unit configured to obtain an image of an object; and

an image processing unit configured to process image data obtained byimaging of the imaging unit,

wherein the imaging unit includes

-   -   a pixel array configured such that unit pixels are arranged in a        matrix,    -   a comparison unit configured to compare a signal level of an        analog signal read from each unit pixel of the pixel array with        a signal level of a reference signal,    -   a selection unit configured to select, from a plurality of        reference signals, the reference signal to be supplied to the        comparison unit, and    -   a switching unit capable of switching a signal line connected to        an input terminal of the comparison unit such that a signal line        via which the reference signal selected by the selection unit is        transmitted is connected to the input terminal of the comparison        unit,

wherein the comparison unit includes a floating node as the inputterminal,

the selection unit includes a signal line in which a parasiticcapacitance is caused between the signal line and the floating node asthe input terminal of the comparison unit, and

the signal line of the selection unit is configured to transmit anidentical level of signal in multiple comparison processes performed bythe comparison unit.

(11) A signal processing device including:

a comparison unit configured to compare a signal level of an analogsignal with a signal level of a reference signal;

a selection unit configured to select, from a plurality of referencesignals, the reference signal to be supplied to the comparison unit;

a switching unit capable of switching a signal line connected to thecomparison unit such that a signal line via which the reference signalselected by the selection unit is transmitted is connected to thecomparison unit;

a mixing unit configured to mix a signal indicating a comparison resultobtained by the comparison unit with a signal indicating the referencesignal selected by the selection unit;

a measurement unit configured to measure a time until a value of thesignal indicating the comparison result obtained by the comparison unitchanges and output a measurement result as an A/D conversion result ofthe analog signal, the signal being contained in a signal output fromthe mixing unit and transmitted via a single signal line; and

a control unit configured to control measurement of the measurement uniton the basis of the signal indicating the reference signal selected bythe selection unit, the signal being contained in the signal output fromthe mixing unit and transmitted via the single signal line.

(12) The signal processing device according to (11), wherein

the mixing unit transmits, via the single signal line, the signalindicating the comparison result obtained by the comparison unit and thesignal indicating the reference signal selected by the selection unit indifferent periods.

(13) The signal processing device according to (12), wherein

the comparison unit sequentially compares a signal level of a resetsignal read from a unit pixel with a signal level of each referencesignal, and compares a signal level of a pixel signal read from the unitpixel with a signal level of a predetermined reference signal,

the selection unit selects any one of the plurality of referencesignals,

the switching unit switches, as necessary, the signal line connected tothe comparison unit such that the signal line via which the referencesignal selected by the selection unit is transmitted is connected to thecomparison unit,

the comparison unit further compares the signal level of the pixelsignal with the signal level of the reference signal selected by theselection unit, and

the mixing unit

-   -   transmits, via the single signal line, the signal indicating the        comparison result in a period for comparing the signal level of        the reset signal with the signal level of each reference signal        by the comparison unit,    -   transmits, via the single signal line, the signal indicating the        reference signal selected by the selection unit in a period for        comparing the signal level of the pixel signal with the signal        level of the predetermined reference signal by the comparison        unit, and    -   transmits, via the single signal line, the signal indicating the        comparison result in a period for comparing, by the comparison        unit, the signal level of the pixel signal with the signal level        of the reference signal selected by the selection unit.

(14) The signal processing device according to any of (11) to (13),wherein

the comparison unit includes

-   -   a signal comparison unit configured to compare the signal level        of the analog signal with the signal level of the reference        signal,    -   a logical NOT unit configured to invert a comparison result        obtained by the signal comparison unit, and    -   a logical NAND unit configured to obtain a logical NAND of        output of the logical NOT unit and a predetermined control        signal, and

the mixing unit mixes output of the logical NAND unit with the signalindicating the reference signal selected by the selection unit.

(15) The signal processing device according to any of (11) to (14),wherein

the comparison unit includes

-   -   a signal comparison unit configured to compare the signal level        of the analog signal with the signal level of the reference        signal, and    -   a logical NOT unit configured to invert a comparison result        obtained by the signal comparison unit, and

the mixing unit includes

-   -   a logical AND unit configured to obtain a logical AND of output        of the logical NOT unit and a predetermined control signal, and    -   a logical NOR unit configured to obtain a logical NOR of output        of the logical AND unit and the signal indicating the reference        signal selected by the selection unit.

(16) The signal processing device according to any of (11) to (15),wherein

the selection unit selects, from the plurality of reference signals, thereference signal to be supplied to the comparison unit according to thecomparison result obtained by the comparison unit.

(17) The signal processing device according to any of (11) to (16),wherein

the comparison unit compares the signal level of the reference signalwith the signal level of the analog signal read from a unit pixel of apixel array belonging to a unit pixel group assigned to the comparisonunit itself.

(18) The signal processing device according to any of (11) to (17),wherein

the comparison unit, the selection unit, the switching unit, and themixing unit are formed on a semiconductor substrate different from thatfor the measurement unit and the control unit.

(19) An imaging element including:

a pixel array configured such that unit pixels are arranged in a matrix;

a comparison unit configured to compare a signal level of an analogsignal read from each unit pixel of the pixel array with a signal levelof a reference signal;

a selection unit configured to select, from a plurality of referencesignals, the reference signal to be supplied to the comparison unit;

a switching unit capable of switching a signal line connected to thecomparison unit such that a signal line via which the reference signalselected by the selection unit is transmitted is connected to thecomparison unit;

a mixing unit configured to mix a signal indicating a comparison resultobtained by the comparison unit with a signal indicating the referencesignal selected by the selection unit;

a measurement unit configured to measure a time until a value of thesignal indicating the comparison result obtained by the comparison unitchanges and output a measurement result as an A/D conversion result ofthe analog signal, the signal being contained in a signal output fromthe mixing unit and transmitted via a single signal line; and

a control unit configured to control measurement of the measurement uniton the basis of the signal indicating the reference signal selected bythe selection unit, the signal being contained in the signal output fromthe mixing unit and transmitted via the single signal line.

(20) An electronic apparatus including:

an imaging unit configured to obtain an image of an object; and

an image processing unit configured to process image data obtained byimaging of the imaging unit,

wherein the imaging unit includes

-   -   a pixel array configured such that unit pixels are arranged in a        matrix,    -   a comparison unit configured to compare a signal level of an        analog signal read from each unit pixel of the pixel array with        a signal level of a reference signal,    -   a selection unit configured to select, from a plurality of        reference signals, the reference signal to be supplied to the        comparison unit, and    -   a switching unit capable of switching a signal line connected to        the comparison unit such that a signal line via which the        reference signal selected by the selection unit is transmitted        is connected to the comparison unit,    -   a mixing unit configured to mix a signal indicating a comparison        result obtained by the comparison unit with a signal indicating        the reference signal selected by the selection unit,    -   a measurement unit configured to measure a time until a value of        the signal indicating the comparison result obtained by the        comparison unit changes and output a measurement result as an        A/D conversion result of the analog signal, the signal being        contained in a signal output from the mixing unit and        transmitted via a single signal line, and    -   a control unit configured to control measurement of the        measurement unit on the basis of the signal indicating the        reference signal selected by the selection unit, the signal        being contained in the signal output from the mixing unit and        transmitted via the single signal line.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   100 Image sensor-   111 Pixel array-   112 A/D conversion unit-   113 Horizontal transfer unit-   121 Control timing generation unit-   122 Pixel scanning unit-   123 A/D conversion control unit-   131, 132 Reference voltage generation unit-   141 Unit pixel-   151 Column A/D conversion unit-   161 Photodiode-   162 Transfer transistor-   163 Reset transistor-   164 Amplification transistor-   165 Select transistor-   171 Comparison unit-   172 Counter-   181 Comparison unit-   182 Selection unit-   183 Switching unit-   184, 185 Capacitor-   191 Determination unit-   192 Switch control unit-   201 NOT gate-   202 Latch-   203 Switch-   204 Amplifier-   205 NOT gate-   321 Latch-   322 Multiplexer-   323 Electrode-   324 Latch-   331 Comparison unit-   332 NOT gate-   333 NAND gate-   342 Latch-   343 AND gate-   344 NOR gate-   400 Image sensor-   401 Pixel substrate-   402 Circuit board-   411 Pixel region-   412 Peripheral circuit region-   413, 413 Via region-   600 Imaging device-   612 CMOS image sensor

The invention claimed is:
 1. An imaging device, comprising: a pixelconfigured to output a first pixel signal and a second pixel signal; afirst signal line coupled to the pixel; a second signal line configuredto receive a first reference signal; a third signal line configured toreceive a second reference signal; a switch circuit; a comparatorconfigured to: compare a first signal based on the first pixel signaland the first reference signal, and compare a second signal based on thesecond pixel signal and the second reference signal, wherein thecomparator includes: a first differential transistor coupled to thefirst signal line; and a second differential transistor coupled to thesecond signal line and the third signal line through the switch circuit;a counter configured to receive an output of the comparator; and amultiplex circuit coupled between the counter and the comparator.
 2. Theimaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a firstsubstrate and a second substrate.
 3. The imaging device according toclaim 2, wherein the first substrate includes the pixel and the firstsignal line.
 4. The imaging device according to claim 3, wherein thesecond substrate includes the second signal line, the third signal line,the comparator, the switch circuit, the comparator, the counter, and themultiplex circuit.
 5. The imaging device according to claim 2, whereinthe first substrate includes the pixel, the switch circuit, and thecomparator.
 6. The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein thesecond substrate includes the counter.
 7. The imaging device accordingto claim 1, further comprising a first reference signal generationcircuit configured to output the first reference signal.
 8. The imagingdevice according to claim 1, further comprising a second referencesignal generation circuit configured to output the second referencesignal.
 9. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising alatch circuit coupled to the counter.
 10. An imaging device, comprising:a pixel configured to output a first pixel signal and a second pixelsignal; a first signal line coupled to the pixel; a second signal lineconfigured to receive a first reference signal; a third signal lineconfigured to receive a second reference signal; a first switch circuit;a comparator configured to compare a first signal based on the firstpixel signal and the first reference signal, and compare a second signalbased on the second pixel signal and the second reference signal,wherein the comparator includes: a first differential transistor coupledto the first signal line; and a second differential transistor coupledto the second signal line and the third signal line through the firstswitch circuit; a counter configured to receive an output of thecomparator; and a second switch circuit coupled between the counter andthe comparator.
 11. The imaging device according to claim 10, furthercomprising a first substrate and a second substrate.
 12. The imagingdevice according to claim 11, wherein the first substrate includes thepixel and the first signal line.
 13. The imaging device according toclaim 12, wherein the second substrate includes the second signal line,the third signal line, the comparator, the first switch circuit, thecomparator, the counter, and the second switch circuit.
 14. The imagingdevice according to claim 12, wherein the first substrate includes thepixel, the first switch circuit, and the comparator.
 15. The imagingdevice according to claim 12, wherein the second substrate includes thecounter.
 16. The imaging device according to claim 10, furthercomprising a first reference signal generation circuit configured tooutput the first reference signal.
 17. The imaging device according toclaim 10, further comprising a second reference signal generationcircuit configured to output the second reference signal.
 18. Theimaging device according to claim 10, further comprising a latch circuitcoupled to the counter.